Tips & Tricks for Color Correction in Photoshop

Check out these useful tips and tricks when doing color correction in Photoshop. Many photo editing software for beginners also have similar functionalities.

Curves And Levels

There are many reasons why people prefer Photoshop over other professional photo editing programs. One of these reasons is the Curves and Levels feature. A lot of other tools are overlooked in Photoshop and rarely utilized by most editors and photographers. This function is the exception. You can use this to group color together - which are virtually the same but with various interfaces. Many find the layout of Curves easier to use, so it’ll be a nice starting point for you to learn and experiment on before moving on to other layouts or tools.

Hue And Saturation

Hue and Saturation is a quick way to retouch pre-existing colors. Using this with Masks can create a significant change to a certain color in any image. If you change the color of some elements using Hue and Saturation, you should utilize the slider at the bottom. It’s very easy to use and cannot be overlooked if you want to make accurate alterations, which are important for elements such as the skin.

Photo Filter

Before you say NO, hear us out. We don’t use these often, but they are quite effective and easy to use if you want to neutralize color casts. Plus, there are endless ways of using them. Feel free to try them out and experiment.

Choose from one of the presets, or choose Color. Select the color that you prefer. Double click on the layer. Use “Blend If” to get a more refined look of the effect on your image.

Selective Color

This is one of many users’ favorites. It gives you a lot of control and precision in your colors. It is efficient in correcting color casts. It is also nifty for actual color grading. Probably no other function gives the same level of control. Try the power of Selective Color in images with smoke or fog. It’ll be great in removing red shades - and it won’t take longer than a few seconds.

Compared to other methods of color correction, this one is a top choice. It is also enjoyable to use. Some methods we’ve mentioned above, such as Hue and Saturation, are more on the “basic” side of color retouching. Selective Color is in the more advanced side of things, perfect for complex color correction. Click on the colors dropdown. You will get 6 colors to play with. You’ll also get to adjust shadows, highlights, and mid-tones (blacks, whites, neutrals). You have complete control in each of these channels - and you can dictate how much green, red, and blue you can add or remove.

Painting

This method we recommend if you want to feel more like a traditional “artist”. Simply paint - literally - color onto a blank canvas. Be sure to use the “Soft Light” blend mode. Using this layer setting ensures that no details from the photo will be lost.

This method allows you to work on and accentuate the details and colors that are already there, instead of adding a brand new set of colors. Play with this functionality and exaggerate color contrasts between elements, various frames, sides, and more.

Have fun experimenting with these tricks and pointers the next time you attempt color correction in Photoshop. What’s your preferred method? If you are using different retouching apps, what methods do you use?

or just outsource it

Alternatively you can use an app like MIKU to outsource all your photo color correction. This is a great solution for anyone who has limited time. MIKU allows you to request any changes you want, directly from your phone and have a team of professional photo editors make the changes on demand. Typically they respond within 20 minutes and you can ask for as many changes as you want.